Startups founded by women receive less than 50 percent of investment funds than those founded by men, even though women are achieving 10 percent higher profits, according to Boston Consultant Group. Tokunboh Ishmael, co-founder of Alitheia Identity, an investment management and advisory firm focused on channeling private equity investments into businesses, has set out to bridge this gap by launching a Gender investment fund. A former banker at Saloman Smith Barney, Ishmael has plans to drive financial inclusion with the fund, which will have US$75 – 100 million to invest. “It's about being able to bring a gender conscious approach from the boardroom to the factory floor,” Ishmael said. "It's a frustrated culture. We need to bring greater access to the market and sell beyond Nigeria and South Africa. This would have a huge impact on these SMEs and would give more presence to the sector,” she continued.